Elon Musk is primarily known for the part he played in founding the widely known electronic money transfer site Paypal.com. Though the company been the subject of several controversies, it remains the most trusted medium for Internet commerce. These days, Musk applies the same imagination and ability to innovate that he used to make PayPal a success to his leadership of Tesla Motors, of which he is presently chairman. The small automobile manufacturer appears to be on the brink of major breakthroughs the industry, seeking to create usable, practical electric cars that can truly compete with gasoline-powered vehicles. Musk, an engineer, has played an integral part in the development of the company's flagship vehicle, the Tesla Roadster.
Image via Brian Solis.
Musk is not limiting his creative capacities to online finance and battery-powered automobiles, however. He has his eye set on a goal even larger than the worlds of money and oil; namely, space. He is the chief executive officer and chief technology officer of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, a company many refer to simply as SpaceX, which won the contract to design the replacement for the NASA space shuttle. It is the larger goal of both companies to address the matter of climate change.
